Felda: No one will escape the law
Shahrir: Authority will not protect anyone under investigation by MACC
The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has given an assurance that it will not protect anyone in its ranks from facing the music should the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) find a case against them.
Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said he welcomed the MACC’s move to open a new investigation paper on the authority following a new lead that the commission received recently.
“Absolutely nobody will be protected from prosecution arising from the investigation,” Shahrir said.
“I am extremely happy that MACC is receiving new information and hope it will assist MACC in its investigation into any corrupt acts and abuse of power in Felda.”
Appointed chairman in January to replace Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, Shahrir said integrity has to be a key principle within Felda.
“If we can truly (return to our roots) as an organisation that is clean, efficient and trustworthy, I am certain our stakeholders will be the beneficiaries,” Shahrir said.
The Felda chairman did not give much details about the case which the MACC is investigating.
He described what the MACC had received recently as “new information on an old case involving Felda”.
Shahrir said Felda had been making efforts to strengthen its integrity.
“In April, the Felda management and personnel took the MACC’s anti-corruption pledge and adopted a proper Whistleblowing Policy to further strengthen the integrity of Felda and its personnel,” he said.
The MACC is also investigating a case involving alleged corruption and abuse of power at Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV).
The FGV management crisis reached its peak when group president and chief executive officer Zakaria Arshad and group chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, together with two other senior members of the management team, were suspended and given leave of absence on June 6 pending a probe of certain deals under Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of FGV.
On June 7, the Government appointed former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala to oversee the matter and to recommend a way forward for FGV.